Free tax help available via United Way

By Jessica KeguCorrespondent

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Doing your taxes could be as easy as 2-1-1.

The United Way of North Central Florida is offering its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) again this year. The IRS-approved program provides free tax prep and filing, and it's available to anyone with a combined household income of $51,000 or less in the North Central Florida area.

Those interested can dial 2-1-1 to set up an appointment to visit any one of 17 sites located throughout Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties. Their taxes will be prepared and filed by an IRS-certified preparer.

Last year VITA filed 1,293 tax returns worth more than $1.4 million and it hopes to increase that number by 5 percent, said Sarah Coulson, communications specialist for United Way of North Central Florida.

The program has been in place since 2010 and aims to provide help to low- and moderate-income families.

Coulson said that although it is best that people come in for an appointment, if they wish to do their taxes online, they can use www.myfreetaxes.com/uwncfl. For a list of what you need to bring in for your appointment, visit www.unitedwayncfl.org/vita.

VITA will be accepting appointments until the end of tax season, April 15.

<p>Doing your taxes could be as easy as 2-1-1.</p><p>The United Way of North Central Florida is offering its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) again this year. The IRS-approved program provides free tax prep and filing, and it's available to anyone with a combined household income of $51,000 or less in the North Central Florida area.</p><p>Those interested can dial 2-1-1 to set up an appointment to visit any one of 17 sites located throughout Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties. Their taxes will be prepared and filed by an IRS-certified preparer.</p><p>Last year VITA filed 1,293 tax returns worth more than $1.4 million and it hopes to increase that number by 5 percent, said Sarah Coulson, communications specialist for United Way of North Central Florida.</p><p>The program has been in place since 2010 and aims to provide help to low- and moderate-income families.</p><p>Coulson said that although it is best that people come in for an appointment, if they wish to do their taxes online, they can use www.myfreetaxes.com/uwncfl. For a list of what you need to bring in for your appointment, visit www.unitedwayncfl.org/vita.</p><p>VITA will be accepting appointments until the end of tax season, April 15.</p>